Gov. Newsom Announces Judicial Appointments

SACRAMENTO – Gov. Gavin Newsom Oct. 9 announced his appointment of 18 Superior Court Judges, which include five in Los Angeles County listed below.

Los Angeles County Superior Court

Leslie B. Gutierrez, of San Bernardino County, has been appointed to serve in an interim appointment as a judge in the Los Angeles County Superior Court. Gutierrez has served as a deputy district attorney at the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s office since 2012. She was a sole practitioner from 2011 to 2012. Gutierrez earned a Juris Doctor degree from Southwestern Law School. She fills the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Brian C. Yep. The Governor’s appointment allows her to immediately assume the position she was otherwise elected to begin in January 2025. Gutierrez is a Democrat.

Heather M. Hocter, of Los Angeles County, has been appointed to serve as a judge in the Los Angeles County Superior Court. Hocter has served as a deputy alternate public defender at the Los Angeles County alternate public defender’s office since 2017. She served as a deputy public defender at the Los Angeles County Public Defender’s office from 2006 to 2017. Hocter earned a Juris Doctor degree from Southwestern Law School. She fills the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Amy Pellman. Hocter is a Democrat.

Karen C. Joynt, of Los Angeles County, has been appointed to serve as a judge in the Los Angeles County Superior Court. Joynt has served as a commissioner at the Los Angeles County Superior Court since 2022. She was owner and lead attorney at Joynt Law from 2019 to 2022. Joynt served in several positions at the Office of the Los Angeles County Counsel from 2010 to 2019, including assistant county counsel, senior deputy county counsel and deputy county counsel. She served as a deputy alternate public defender in the Office of the Los Angeles County Alternate Public Defender from 2006 to 2010. Joynt served as a deputy public defender in the Office of the Los Angeles County Public Defender from 2003 to 2006. She earned a Juris Doctor degree from Southwestern Law School. She fills the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Richard J. Burdge. Joynt is a Democrat.

Esther K. Ro, of Los Angeles County, has been appointed to serve as a judge in the Los Angeles County Superior Court. Ro has served as a senior appellate attorney at the second district Court of Appeal since 2019. She was a partner at Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP from 2017 to 2019 and an associate there from 2011 to 2017. Ro was an Equal Justice Works AmeriCorps recovery fellow at the Asian Pacific American Legal Center from 2009 to 2010 and an associate at Squire, Sanders & Dempsey LLP from 2007 to 2009. She earned a Juris Doctor degree from the University of California, Los Angeles School of Law. She fills the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Paul A. Bacigalupo. Ro is a Democrat.

Karla Sarabia, of Los Angeles County, has been appointed to serve as a judge in the Los Angeles County Superior Court. Sarabia has been a deputy public defender at the Los Angeles County Public Defender’s office since 2008. She served as a deputy public defender at the Fresno County Public Defender’s office from 2006 to 2008. Sarabia served as a law clerk in the Contra Costa County Public Defender’s Office from 2005 to 2006. Sarabia earned a Juris Doctor degree from the University of San Francisco School of Law. She fills the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Steven D. Blades. Sarabia is a Democrat.